The first thing I noticed at the Solar Power 2007 show was the trouble finding a parking spot. Compared to solar shows in the past this event seemed to mark the break-out of the solar industry into the mainstream. What was even better is that the true solar geeks looked like they were in charge and almost giddy that the solar industry had come of age. According to the list of exhibitors on the Solar Power 2007 website 210 solar companies paid top dollar to show the industry their wares. 210 incredible companies, every single one of them had something to offer.

The stories ranged from solarcells to panels to inverters to wireless metering and a huge complement of solar thermal vacuum tubes and flat-plate collectors. Although the show was not organized by category it was a pleasure to wander about.

The first solar show I went to was back in 2001 in Sacramento. That show was an intimate gathering of a few hundred visitors with about 20 exhibitors. In just 6 years there has been a 10 fold increase in exhibitors and probably a 100 fold increase in visitors. This solar revolution might be real this time.

Besides space based solar, water-pumping has been the primary driver for the solar industry prior to the California rebate program. At the Sun Pumps booth they introduced their new solar powered pool pump for water circulation and filtration. This new product is powered by a 120v DC motor by 900 watts of solar.

In California pools are a major user of electricity. Since most pool pumps run during the day they are using peak electricity.

Seeing Sun Pumps bring an elegant solution to the table to solve this problem warmed my heart. Pool pumping does not qualify for solar rebates which this reporter thinks is a grave mistake.

At the Solar World booth they had a model of their Solar Car that actually looked like it was starting to take the shape of a traditional automobile.

At another booth the Tesla electric car was on display with big "do not touch" me signs and crowds oooing and awing at how beautiful the car is. It seems that solar and electric cars are bringing out the testosterone of the visitors.

One of the fun parts of the show was reading the slogans of the different exhibitors. Here is a fun collection:

+ Don't leave the planet to the stupid – Solon

+ The time right for "Going Solar" – Pacific Power Management

+ …because the future is everything – Solar Solutions

+ Lawyers who know renewable energy – Stoel Rives

+ Life powered by the sun – Mitsubishi Solar

+ Become part of the solution – Apricus Solar Hot Water

+ Powering Solar Production – Veeco

+ Delivering piece of mind through solar energy systems – Gro Solar

+ Accelerating Solar – Applied Materials

+ Design and engineering services: start to finish – DC Power Systems

+ The heart comes from Schott – Schott

+ Capturing the power of the sun – BP Solar

+ A better way to make solar power – Evergreen Solar

+ Blue Planet – Kako

+ Harnessing the sun – Siliken

+ The fastest photovoltaic connectors under the sun – SunCon

+ Free power from nature – RJE Solar

+ Right from the start – Ersol

+ Ahead of the herd – Rouge Engineering

+ Our future is up to you, challenging global warming now – LynnxSolar

+ Are you turned on? – Sharp Solar

Yes, I'm turned on.